title: Multiple spinal cord melanoma: case report with emphasis on the difficult preoperative diagnosis.
abstract: Primary spinal melanoma (PSM) is rare and usually occurs in the cervical and thoracic regions. Here, we present a case of multiple spinal cord melanoma located at the level of cervical and upper thoracic spine in a 24-year-old male. The patient underwent a T6-T7 thoracic laminectomy and gross-total resection of the duty lesion. The histological findings of the tumor were consistent with an intermediate-grade melanocytoma. To the best of our knowledge, only two cases of multifocal primary melanocytic tumor have been reported in the literature. In this case study we review the pertinent literature and emphasize the importance and difficulties concerning the preoperative diagnosis of multiple PSM.
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xinfa
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hongguang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Renya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhan
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult